University of Allahabad

University of Allahabad
Seal of the University of Allahabad
Motto Latin: "Quot Rami Tot Arbores"
Motto in English
 "Every branch yields a Tree"
Type Public
Established 1887 (1887)
Chancellor Goverdhan Mehta
Vice-Chancellor Rattan Lal Hangloo
Location Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Campus Urban
Affiliations UGC
Website www.allduniv.ac.in

The University of Allahabad, informally known as Allahabad University, is a public central university located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Established on 23 September 1887, it is the fourth oldest modern university in India.[1] Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt. Governor of North-Western Provinces, Sir William Muir in 1876, who suggested the idea of a Central University at Allahabad, which later evolved to the present university.[2][3] At one point it was called the "Oxford of the East".[4] On 24 June 2005 its Central University status was restored through the University Allahabad Act 2005[5] of the Parliament of India.[6]

History

Muir Central College, now part of Faculty of Science

The foundation stone of the Muir Central College was laid by Governor-General of India, Lord Northbrook on 9 December 1873. The college was named after Sir William Muir, Lt. Governor of United Province, who was instrumental in its foundation. The building was designed by William Emerson, who also designed Victoria Memorial in Kolkata and Crawford Market in Mumbai in a combination of Indo-Saracenic, Egyptian and Gothic styles.[7]

Initially it functioned under the University of Calcutta and later, on 23 September 1887, the University of Allahabad was established, making it the fifth university established in colonial India after Calcutta university, Bombay university, Madras university and Lahore's Punjab university.

It began as an affiliating and examining body for graduate and postgraduate degrees with a classical orientation and the responsibility for secondary education as well. By 1904 the university established its own teaching departments and instituted doctoral research programs. The University Senate hall was opened by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Hewett, in 1912. In 1921, with the promulgation of the 'Allahabad University Act of 1921', the Muir Central College merged with the university, which was reorganized as a unitary teaching and residential university. Over the next few years its affiliated colleges were transferred to Agra University and the task of conducting secondary-level examinations was relocated.

Aerial view of Senate Hall, University of Allahabad

In 1951, the university (while maintaining its fundamental unitary character) recognized certain local institutions as Associated Colleges authorized to teach undergraduate courses under the faculties of Arts, Commerce, Science, and Law.

The university has had on its rolls a host of politicians and statesmen including one president and two vice-presidents of India, two former prime ministers, several union and state ministers, at least four chief justices of the Supreme Court, besides a large number of senior bureaucrats.

In view of these achievements, as well as its position among the universities of Uttar Pradesh, the state government accorded it formal recognition in July 1992 as a ‘Premier Institution’ (Vishesh Agrani Sanstha).

During the university's centenary celebrations in 1987 there were demands from students, faculty and employees for the granting of status as a Central University. The Government of India eventually acceded to this and the university gained both Central status and recognition as an "Institution of National Importance" in May 2005. At that time, the University of Allahabad Act stipulated the constituent colleges of the university to be:

  • The five faculties of Arts, Commerce, Law, Medicine, and Science,
  • Three university institutes — the Institute of Inter-Disciplinary Studies, the Institute of Professional Studies, and the National Centre of Experimental Mineralogy and Petrology) and one independent university Centre of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences,
  • One university college: the Motilal Nehru Medical College and Swarup Rani Nehru Hospital, Allahabad,
  • Three constituent institutes: the Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad, the Harish Chandra Research Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Physics, Allahabad and the Kamla Nehru Post-graduate Medical Institute, Allahabad,
  • Eleven local institutions.

Affiliation: acceptance and revocation

There was much controversy related to the merger of the Motilal Nehru Medical College with the University. This has been resolved. The Honorable High Court of Allahabad passed an order directing that integration of the medical college with the university be completed by 1 October 2006. The affiliation of the S. P. Mukherjee Government Degree College with the University has yet to be finalised because of the objections raised by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Harish Chandra Research Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Physics, Allahabad and Kamla Nehru Post-Graduate Medical Institute, Allahabad have sought to revoke their affiliation from the university. The same has been endorsed by the Executive Council of the University. (Further action in this matter would be taken once the president of India, the visitor of the university, gives his consent to the recommendation of the University's Executive Council.)

Campus

The campus is spread around the city of Allahabad across the area of Old Katra (Separate Science and Arts Faculties with the latter housing the Administrative Block) to Chatham Lines (Commerce/MONIRBA and Law Faculties). It has numerous residential hostels for students.

Colleges

The following colleges are constituent to Allahabad University:

  • Allahabad Degree College
  • Arya Kanya Degree College
  • C.M.P. Degree College
  • Ewing Christian College (Autonomous Minority College)
  • Hamidia Girls' Degree College
  • Ishwar Saran Degree College
  • Jagat Taran Girls' Degree College
  • K.P Training College
  • Rajarshi Tandon Girls' Degree College
  • S.S. Khanna Girls Degree College
  • S.P.M. Govt. Degree College

It was announced by the college administration in 2017 that the students from constituent colleges can study Post-Graduate courses from the academic year 2018-19.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ Handbook of Universities, Volume 1. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. 1 January 2006. p. 17. ISBN 81-269-0607-3. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Wikisource Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Muir, Sir Misra". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. "In 1885 he was elected principal of Edinburgh University"
  3. ↑ History Archived 25 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Allahabad University website.
  4. ↑ Allahabad Varsity to become a central university The Times of India, 11 May 2005.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Central University status restored for Allahabad University Ministry of Human Resource Development, Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 24 June 2005.
  7. ↑ Muir College The Hindu, 9 June 2006.

Further reading

  • The Muir Central College, Allahabad: its origin, foundation, and completion, by William Henry Wright, published in 1985, Govt. Press, North-Western Provinces and Oudh (Allahabad).
  • Materials and Motifs of the Philosophical Traditions of Allahabad University, by Sangam Lal Pandey. Published by Ram Nath Kaul Library of Philosophy, University of Allahabad, 1981.
  • Hundred years of Allahabad University, by Moti Lal Bhargava. Published by Ashish Pub. House, 1987. ISBN 81-7024-162-6.

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